Pattern Collection

5 Blackwork Animal Patterns: Elephant, Rhino, Dragon and More

Five blackwork animal patterns, ready to download today. Each chart includes the design size, stitch count, and the fabric I'd choose for it. Pick the one you'd most like on your wall, then download the chart and start tonight.

Elephant Rhino Goose Rooster Dragon

The Sentinel Intermediate

£4.25 Instant PDF download

The Sentinel is a calm, dignified portrait of a bull elephant, rendered in graceful geometric fills and soft grey linework. The tusks are drawn in light itself, left unstitched as negative space, framing his wise eye and sure-footed stance.

Limited shading and a subtle ground shadow keep the composition uncluttered, so the texture of your fabric shines through. This is a meditative piece for evenings when you want to slow down and watch a noble silhouette emerge motif by motif.

Stitch count: 115w x 155h

Design size: 8.25 x 11 in on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

Framed blackwork elephant design called The Sentinel

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Why this design works: Negative-space tusks create a powerful, modern focal point without a single extra stitch.

The Warrior Intermediate

£4.25 Instant PDF download

The Warrior is my tribute to the white rhino, a stately portrait that holds both strength and vulnerability in one silhouette. Worked in monochrome dark grey (DMC 3799) to coordinate with The Sentinel, the design uses backstitch or double running stitch for crisp outlines and textured fills that add sculpted depth.

There's no border or background to distract from the form. When you finish, you'll have a piece that sparks quiet conversations about conservation. In 2018, the last male Northern White rhino, Sudan, passed away. Today, only two females remain.

Stitch count: 140w x 209h

Design size: 10 x 15 in on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

Framed blackwork rhino picture called The Warrior

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Why this design works: Subtle shaded fills add lifelike bulk while preserving the clean geometry of traditional blackwork.

Blackwork Barnacle Goose Advanced

£3.60 Instant PDF download

The Barnacle Goose captures the hush of a winter morning. Each measured Holbein stitch builds an elegant bird against a snow-white sky, the kind of rhythmic, mindful stitching that nourishes the spirit while creating a striking statement piece for your wall.

The design uses varied blackwork fills to sculpt light, shadow, and the soft layering of feathers. The background is deliberately left unstitched, so the negative space reads as fresh tundra. A nod to old folklore (when people believed these birds sprang from sea barnacles because no one saw their northern nests) adds story to your stitch.

Stitch count: 155 x 176

Design size: 12.5 x 11 in on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

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Why this design works: Realistic feather shading achieved through layered blackwork fills and limited outlines.

The Rooster Advanced

£4.25 Instant PDF download

The Rooster captures the hush before sunrise: the promise of a new day, the first glimmer of light on the kitchen wall. Feather by feather, crisp blackwork lines and delicate cross stitches shape a stately bird mid-strut, tail plumes arched in regal display.

The textures build like lace, bold enough to anchor a room, refined enough to feel artful and modern. Stitch it in classic black for true farmhouse flair, or personalise with deep sepia, indigo, or a variegated floss for subtle movement. Finished, it makes a lasting keepsake for a kitchen gallery wall, a country cottage, or a thoughtful housewarming gift.

Stitch count: 168w x 243h

Design size: 12 x 17.5 in on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

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Why this design works: Intricate blackwork fills create lifelike plumage without heavy outlines.

Oriental Dragon Intermediate

£5.00 Instant PDF download

The Oriental Dragon traces the sinuous grace of a classic Chinese dragon in elegant blackwork. Long, sweeping outlines guide your needle, while repeatable blackwork textures add mesmerising depth. The vertical format makes a bold statement without overwhelming your decor.

Stitch it in traditional black for crisp contrast, or choose auspicious reds with touches of gold for celebratory sparkle. Either way, the linework shines. Once framed, it becomes a keepsake that carries well-wishes of courage, balance, and enduring luck.

Stitch count: 144w x 259h

Design size: 18.5 x 10.25 in (47cm x 26cm) on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

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Why this design works: Luxurious blackwork fills create dramatic impact using simple, repeatable stitches. Perfect for mindful, meditative stitching.

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Newer to Blackwork?

Start with the Foundations

These are intermediate-to-advanced patterns, designed for stitchers who've completed a project or two and want something striking on the wall. If you're newer to blackwork, start with the free pattern, then build confidence with the tutorial and ebook before you tackle The Sentinel.

Free Blackwork Pattern

A small, gentle starter design you can download and stitch this weekend. The easiest way to find out whether blackwork suits you.

Blackwork Embroidery Tutorial

How blackwork works, how the fills build up, and the two stitches you need. Walks through the foundations the patterns assume you know.

Blackwork for Beginners Ebook

The full beginner walkthrough in one downloadable book. Stitch by stitch from your first motif to your first finished piece.

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Blackwork Christmas Designs

Festive blackwork patterns for cards, hoops, and decorations. Same monochrome elegance, holiday-ready themes.